I'm an optimist. What I mean is, I like to buy into the hype. I get hyped up for every new mmo release. I got hyped for Aion. It was 'ok'. I got hyped for Rift, it was also 'ok', except I got hacked for the first time in my life and that pretty much killed it for me. I got hyped for GW2, I thought that game was pretty lame...
Point is, I like mmo's, I like to read about them before release, I like to get excited about them.
I thought there was A LOT to be excited about with EQN. Did it seem like EQ to me? Not at all. It did seem pretty cool though.
The art style is the way it is for many reasons, but I believe this is the most important one: SOEmote!
The over sized eyes and mouth, stylized aesthetics of that human and kerran is essential for the facial animation to work with the motion tractor. This is why people kept saying that the game looks like a Disney cartoon! Because Disney's cartoon also need this degree of expressiveness on their character to make they feel "alive" even from a distance.
The style direction is not a independent decision, but part of a bigger plan. So I doubt they're going to change it this time. Other than that I agree with everything you've said. SOE need to understand that they're dealing with the most impatient and unforgiving crowd on the internet, aka mmo players, and these guys will jump to the conclusion and spread it like a plague if you give them the chance...
Originally posted by bingbongbros Alrighty the naysayers and trolls have found there way in. Let me see here...
- No Levels/Horizontal Progression
- Voxel built world/fully destructable
- Minecraft building style ability throughout Norrath
- 8 starting classes, up to 40 interchangeable advanced classes
- Permanent changes to the world via Rally Calls (PQ's), described as being the lore of the game as you shape the world.
- Layered world, able to break through to deeper parts of the planet.
- Factions that matter, like in EQ1. KOS to certain towns/guards
I could go on, but with a starting list like this what else do you people want? Set aside the character models, and set aside the limited hotbar. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!
And how the hell can you still call this a themepark?
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
The reveal was kinda crap, we learned very little about the game. This has led people to run around screaming doom and gloom. It's frustrating from both sides, but hopefully that will change as more information is released.
Unless SOE release all the solid info now, instead having players commenting with a more open mind (and a bit of cheekiness), everyone, fanatics or not, will just form their own opinions of what EQN is all about based on the little info given, and will root deeply to that imagination.
Once EQN is out, players with expectation not reach will just scream "HYPE! FAIL! NOT WHAT I WANT!!!" when actually the game's level of standard is actually there. In this case, fanatics will scream 10 times more louder that non-fanatics as they had been over-obsessed on how "good" EQN will be and think EQN will actually save the world from doom.
The possibility of the universe collapsing into a singularity is higher than the birth of a perfect MMORPG.
I like your post. It's well written. But I think you may be taking the combat portion of your argument to an extreme.
I did hear them say that if you're not doing dps you're basically gimping your group. However, that's not to say that if you're buffing or debuffing, healing or doing cc, and doing somewhat less dps than the next guy, you're still gimping your group. It's possible there is some middle ground.
Sandbox to me means player housing, cities, and that most items, meaning armor/weapons are player made. Combat, to me, lends itself less to sandbox mentality than the other game mechanics that I've listed.
Originally posted by bingbongbros Alrighty the naysayers and trolls have found there way in. Let me see here...
- No Levels/Horizontal Progression
- Voxel built world/fully destructable
- Minecraft building style ability throughout Norrath
- 8 starting classes, up to 40 interchangeable advanced classes
- Permanent changes to the world via Rally Calls (PQ's), described as being the lore of the game as you shape the world.
- Layered world, able to break through to deeper parts of the planet.
- Factions that matter, like in EQ1. KOS to certain towns/guards
I could go on, but with a starting list like this what else do you people want? Set aside the character models, and set aside the limited hotbar. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!
And how the hell can you still call this a themepark?
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
I dunno, if that's what you call sandbox, then just about every game out there is a sandbox.
I see sandbox as a game void of developer created content, but replaced with tools that allow you to create your own content. You create your own reason (usually an in game need) to kill stuff, to farm, to build, whatever. You decide who is your friend and who is enemy (not the game based on faction choice)
I have nothing against games going the themepark route, which is developer created conflict, content, and things to do. Or implementing some themepark rides that would fit into a sandbox just as well...yeah player housing is neutral can go in either, as will farming and building/destruction
But really sandbox is the games foundation, it either has it or it doesn't. Blurring the lines are just fine, as I think the current "pure" sandboxes we currently have are a bit hardcore for most (considering most have been conditioned to let a developer lead them by the hand though the game)
So I definitely see the future of blending the two. However, just because a game gives you choices doesn't make it sandbox, in fact if those choices are not choices you came to on your own, then its by no means a sandbox, but a themepark with choices. Sandbox choices typically go along the route of player politics which are all player made not developer made.
Sandbox isn't "digging" as you put it...but a developer created sandbox with tools and then you just let the players go at it how they see fit. Theres no faction vs faction as players make the factions, theres no questing or storyline as the world is just the backdrop and your making the story.
Yeah its a bit harder to play if you have no imagination or cant handle killing stuff without an NPC to chuck gold and xp at you for it. Its an acquired taste that's hard to replicate in any themepark since in a themepark its all made for you, and your just on the ride.
And I know people now REALLY want to tailor make their definition of sandbox to fit whatever themepark they are playing since unfortunately sandbox became a buzzword everyone wants to say...while at the same time ignoring every sandbox out. Im thinking soon we will have to create a new term for real sandboxes since the masses seem to lable anything with crafting, building, player housing, or farming as a sandbox because its you know...trendy now...
Great write up OP. I agree with everything you wrote. It's a shame that mmo players are so bitter or trolltastic these days that when they are given a sandbox they burn it to the ground instantly.
I for one will be playing Landmark, and EQN until the end of time. I don't mind the art style at all, but I do wish they would turn the Kerran into a Kerran and not what we saw at the reveal.
I'm going out on a limb hear to say I bet you won't be playing EQN till the end of time. Simple reason being we know way to little in the actual facts department. there are too many things they haven't even touched on saying they were saving it for later.
In the End when GW2 came out a lot of people just like you stated they would be playing it forever. some still do however many have since changed their tune. Hype statements don't do anyone any good. ie "Oh my god I know almost 25% about a game that will be released in 2-3 more years I'll be playing it forever!!!!!"
Originally posted by bingbongbros Alrighty the naysayers and trolls have found there way in. Let me see here...
- No Levels/Horizontal Progression
- Voxel built world/fully destructable
- Minecraft building style ability throughout Norrath
- 8 starting classes, up to 40 interchangeable advanced classes
- Permanent changes to the world via Rally Calls (PQ's), described as being the lore of the game as you shape the world.
- Layered world, able to break through to deeper parts of the planet.
- Factions that matter, like in EQ1. KOS to certain towns/guards
I could go on, but with a starting list like this what else do you people want? Set aside the character models, and set aside the limited hotbar. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!
And how the hell can you still call this a themepark?
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
I dunno, if that's what you call sandbox, then just about every game out there is a sandbox.
I see sandbox as a game void of developer created content, but replaced with tools that allow you to create your own content. You create your own reason (usually an in game need) to kill stuff, to farm, to build, whatever. You decide who is your friend and who is enemy (not the game based on faction choice)
I have nothing against games going the themepark route, which is developer created conflict, content, and things to do. Or implementing some themepark rides that would fit into a sandbox just as well...yeah player housing is neutral can go in either, as will farming and building/destruction
But really sandbox is the games foundation, it either has it or it doesn't. Blurring the lines are just fine, as I think the current "pure" sandboxes we currently have are a bit hardcore for most (considering most have been conditioned to let a developer lead them by the hand though the game)
So I definitely see the future of blending the two. However, just because a game gives you choices doesn't make it sandbox, in fact if those choices are not choices you came to on your own, then its by no means a sandbox, but a themepark with choices. Sandbox choices typically go along the route of player politics which are all player made not developer made.
Sandbox isn't "digging" as you put it...but a developer created sandbox with tools and then you just let the players go at it how they see fit. Theres no faction vs faction as players make the factions, theres no questing or storyline as the world is just the backdrop and your making the story.
Yeah its a bit harder to play if you have no imagination or cant handle killing stuff without an NPC to chuck gold and xp at you for it. Its an acquired taste that's hard to replicate in any themepark since in a themepark its all made for you, and your just on the ride.
And I know people now REALLY want to tailor make their definition of sandbox to fit whatever themepark they are playing since unfortunately sandbox became a buzzword everyone wants to say...while at the same time ignoring every sandbox out. Im thinking soon we will have to create a new term for real sandboxes since the masses seem to lable anything with crafting, building, player housing, or farming as a sandbox because its you know...trendy now...
EQN is going to be more sandbox than SWG and UO combined, so I'm happy.
Originally posted by bingbongbros Alrighty the naysayers and trolls have found there way in. Let me see here...
- No Levels/Horizontal Progression
- Voxel built world/fully destructable
- Minecraft building style ability throughout Norrath
- 8 starting classes, up to 40 interchangeable advanced classes
- Permanent changes to the world via Rally Calls (PQ's), described as being the lore of the game as you shape the world.
- Layered world, able to break through to deeper parts of the planet.
- Factions that matter, like in EQ1. KOS to certain towns/guards
I could go on, but with a starting list like this what else do you people want? Set aside the character models, and set aside the limited hotbar. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!
And how the hell can you still call this a themepark?
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
I dunno, if that's what you call sandbox, then just about every game out there is a sandbox.
I see sandbox as a game void of developer created content, but replaced with tools that allow you to create your own content. You create your own reason (usually an in game need) to kill stuff, to farm, to build, whatever. You decide who is your friend and who is enemy (not the game based on faction choice)
I have nothing against games going the themepark route, which is developer created conflict, content, and things to do. Or implementing some themepark rides that would fit into a sandbox just as well...yeah player housing is neutral can go in either, as will farming and building/destruction
But really sandbox is the games foundation, it either has it or it doesn't. Blurring the lines are just fine, as I think the current "pure" sandboxes we currently have are a bit hardcore for most (considering most have been conditioned to let a developer lead them by the hand though the game)
So I definitely see the future of blending the two. However, just because a game gives you choices doesn't make it sandbox, in fact if those choices are not choices you came to on your own, then its by no means a sandbox, but a themepark with choices. Sandbox choices typically go along the route of player politics which are all player made not developer made.
Sandbox isn't "digging" as you put it...but a developer created sandbox with tools and then you just let the players go at it how they see fit. Theres no faction vs faction as players make the factions, theres no questing or storyline as the world is just the backdrop and your making the story.
Yeah its a bit harder to play if you have no imagination or cant handle killing stuff without an NPC to chuck gold and xp at you for it. Its an acquired taste that's hard to replicate in any themepark since in a themepark its all made for you, and your just on the ride.
And I know people now REALLY want to tailor make their definition of sandbox to fit whatever themepark they are playing since unfortunately sandbox became a buzzword everyone wants to say...while at the same time ignoring every sandbox out. Im thinking soon we will have to create a new term for real sandboxes since the masses seem to lable anything with crafting, building, player housing, or farming as a sandbox because its you know...trendy now...
EQN is going to be more sandbox than SWG and UO combined, so I'm happy.
Only if you are completely twisting the meaning of sandbox style games into something totally unrelated to what they meant previously.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Only if you are completely twisting the meaning of sandbox style games into something totally unrelated to what they meant previously.
No, they meant sandbox and that's what they're giving us. It's way more sandbox than UO or SWG was, though I know what you mean. Sandbox is such a wildly subjective term that varies from person to person. I'm just glad all my predictions on the game came true and they're doing it right.
Originally posted by bingbongbros I think the face of the Kerran was cool, you know they will add different cat types. But the body was just holy crap wtf is that. Ogre body with Kerran head haha
No one will be able to notice body type anyway under that massive blocky WOW-style armor . They could have given the female an ogre body and put her in that armor and she would have looked the same as Mufasa only with a different head.
Originally posted by bingbongbros Alrighty the naysayers and trolls have found there way in. Let me see here...
- No Levels/Horizontal Progression
- Voxel built world/fully destructable
- Minecraft building style ability throughout Norrath
- 8 starting classes, up to 40 interchangeable advanced classes
- Permanent changes to the world via Rally Calls (PQ's), described as being the lore of the game as you shape the world.
- Layered world, able to break through to deeper parts of the planet.
- Factions that matter, like in EQ1. KOS to certain towns/guards
I could go on, but with a starting list like this what else do you people want? Set aside the character models, and set aside the limited hotbar. WHAT ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!
And how the hell can you still call this a themepark?
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
I was hoping you'd post in this thread.
Your definition of a "Sandbox" seems a bit like anarchy, not a game. Remember UO ? Attack anything in a city and you insta-died. Steal..and "Guards!" insta-die, try to build a house ? Sorry too much shit is already here, or sorry too close to a dungeon, sorry too close to a city. Remember SWG ? Where they had missions for cash, where you were limited again by borders ? Where there was definitive "level" progression on planets ?
All of these sandboxes had structure, just because you could play around in the center doesn't mean they were free.
Also, you keep bringing up this idea that "Everyone is a dps" yet..we saw a tank, combat is far from finished (this game isn't even alpha) and yet you know exactly what the combat style will be. There's no way in hell anyone got that from either the reveal or the classes panel. The closest thing I recall was when someone compared combat to GW2 in the classes panel and asked if you could be support they got a round-about answer about "Well everyone has to do some kind of damage"
They've also alluded to their being tanks, but not npcs that will sit and hit one dude because he has anger procs or Terror of Thule over and over while getting ass-raped by 30 rogue,wizards, and rangers(teehee).
Comments
I'm an optimist. What I mean is, I like to buy into the hype. I get hyped up for every new mmo release. I got hyped for Aion. It was 'ok'. I got hyped for Rift, it was also 'ok', except I got hacked for the first time in my life and that pretty much killed it for me. I got hyped for GW2, I thought that game was pretty lame...
Point is, I like mmo's, I like to read about them before release, I like to get excited about them.
I thought there was A LOT to be excited about with EQN. Did it seem like EQ to me? Not at all. It did seem pretty cool though.
The art style is the way it is for many reasons, but I believe this is the most important one: SOEmote!
The over sized eyes and mouth, stylized aesthetics of that human and kerran is essential for the facial animation to work with the motion tractor. This is why people kept saying that the game looks like a Disney cartoon! Because Disney's cartoon also need this degree of expressiveness on their character to make they feel "alive" even from a distance.
The style direction is not a independent decision, but part of a bigger plan. So I doubt they're going to change it this time. Other than that I agree with everything you've said. SOE need to understand that they're dealing with the most impatient and unforgiving crowd on the internet, aka mmo players, and these guys will jump to the conclusion and spread it like a plague if you give them the chance...
I said this in another thread and I'll say it here. A sandbox means freedom, not being able to literally dig in the sand. Georgeson and Co. went to great lengths to mention how one could not negitively impact rallying calls, how one could not in essence act as a counterpart to the "Heroic" and virtuous image the devs envision all of the players opining to represent. I can't be a healer or tank, my role in combat is relegated to DPS, and despite the patchwork answers to these questions given at SOE live, your advancement and achievement will be tied directly to DPS contribution.
"Play your way, as long as it is doing DPS, and following the storyline" isn't a Sandbox.
Seriously, for sake of argument, remove the voxels and currently-empty promises of storybricks (which two of the most acclaimed sandboxes, UO and SWG had neither of) would EQN still be a sandbox? No. It wouldn't. It's a chassis of minecraft built to carry mechanical parts from MOBA titles, coupled with what was the latest and greatest and trendiest combat system at that time in EQN's development, GW2, without waiting to see how that system panned out.
Everything in EQN hinges on middleware. Unproven, and currently non-functioning middleware.
Unless SOE release all the solid info now, instead having players commenting with a more open mind (and a bit of cheekiness), everyone, fanatics or not, will just form their own opinions of what EQN is all about based on the little info given, and will root deeply to that imagination.
Once EQN is out, players with expectation not reach will just scream "HYPE! FAIL! NOT WHAT I WANT!!!" when actually the game's level of standard is actually there. In this case, fanatics will scream 10 times more louder that non-fanatics as they had been over-obsessed on how "good" EQN will be and think EQN will actually save the world from doom.
The possibility of the universe collapsing into a singularity is higher than the birth of a perfect MMORPG.
I dunno, if that's what you call sandbox, then just about every game out there is a sandbox.
I see sandbox as a game void of developer created content, but replaced with tools that allow you to create your own content. You create your own reason (usually an in game need) to kill stuff, to farm, to build, whatever. You decide who is your friend and who is enemy (not the game based on faction choice)
I have nothing against games going the themepark route, which is developer created conflict, content, and things to do. Or implementing some themepark rides that would fit into a sandbox just as well...yeah player housing is neutral can go in either, as will farming and building/destruction
But really sandbox is the games foundation, it either has it or it doesn't. Blurring the lines are just fine, as I think the current "pure" sandboxes we currently have are a bit hardcore for most (considering most have been conditioned to let a developer lead them by the hand though the game)
So I definitely see the future of blending the two. However, just because a game gives you choices doesn't make it sandbox, in fact if those choices are not choices you came to on your own, then its by no means a sandbox, but a themepark with choices. Sandbox choices typically go along the route of player politics which are all player made not developer made.
Sandbox isn't "digging" as you put it...but a developer created sandbox with tools and then you just let the players go at it how they see fit. Theres no faction vs faction as players make the factions, theres no questing or storyline as the world is just the backdrop and your making the story.
Yeah its a bit harder to play if you have no imagination or cant handle killing stuff without an NPC to chuck gold and xp at you for it. Its an acquired taste that's hard to replicate in any themepark since in a themepark its all made for you, and your just on the ride.
And I know people now REALLY want to tailor make their definition of sandbox to fit whatever themepark they are playing since unfortunately sandbox became a buzzword everyone wants to say...while at the same time ignoring every sandbox out. Im thinking soon we will have to create a new term for real sandboxes since the masses seem to lable anything with crafting, building, player housing, or farming as a sandbox because its you know...trendy now...
I'm going out on a limb hear to say I bet you won't be playing EQN till the end of time. Simple reason being we know way to little in the actual facts department. there are too many things they haven't even touched on saying they were saving it for later.
In the End when GW2 came out a lot of people just like you stated they would be playing it forever. some still do however many have since changed their tune. Hype statements don't do anyone any good. ie "Oh my god I know almost 25% about a game that will be released in 2-3 more years I'll be playing it forever!!!!!"
"I'll give it a shot, but my initial preference is definitely for more realism - even if that means less personal control over the environment."
Wtf!
EQN is going to be more sandbox than SWG and UO combined, so I'm happy.
Legends of Kesmai, UO, EQ, AO, DAoC, AC, SB, RO, SWG, EVE, EQ2, CoH, GW, VG:SOH, WAR, Aion, DF, CO, MO, DN, Tera, SWTOR, RO2, DP, GW2, PS2, BnS, NW, FF:XIV, ESO, EQ:NL
Only if you are completely twisting the meaning of sandbox style games into something totally unrelated to what they meant previously.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
No, they meant sandbox and that's what they're giving us. It's way more sandbox than UO or SWG was, though I know what you mean. Sandbox is such a wildly subjective term that varies from person to person. I'm just glad all my predictions on the game came true and they're doing it right.
Legends of Kesmai, UO, EQ, AO, DAoC, AC, SB, RO, SWG, EVE, EQ2, CoH, GW, VG:SOH, WAR, Aion, DF, CO, MO, DN, Tera, SWTOR, RO2, DP, GW2, PS2, BnS, NW, FF:XIV, ESO, EQ:NL
No one will be able to notice body type anyway under that massive blocky WOW-style armor . They could have given the female an ogre body and put her in that armor and she would have looked the same as Mufasa only with a different head.
I was hoping you'd post in this thread.
Your definition of a "Sandbox" seems a bit like anarchy, not a game. Remember UO ? Attack anything in a city and you insta-died. Steal..and "Guards!" insta-die, try to build a house ? Sorry too much shit is already here, or sorry too close to a dungeon, sorry too close to a city. Remember SWG ? Where they had missions for cash, where you were limited again by borders ? Where there was definitive "level" progression on planets ?
All of these sandboxes had structure, just because you could play around in the center doesn't mean they were free.
Also, you keep bringing up this idea that "Everyone is a dps" yet..we saw a tank, combat is far from finished (this game isn't even alpha) and yet you know exactly what the combat style will be. There's no way in hell anyone got that from either the reveal or the classes panel. The closest thing I recall was when someone compared combat to GW2 in the classes panel and asked if you could be support they got a round-about answer about "Well everyone has to do some kind of damage"
They've also alluded to their being tanks, but not npcs that will sit and hit one dude because he has anger procs or Terror of Thule over and over while getting ass-raped by 30 rogue,wizards, and rangers(teehee).